breaking story this morning about Kenneth Bae, the American missionary jailed in North Korea for more than a year and appeared before reporters under guard appealing to the American government for his release. ABC's terry Moran has the latest on this story. Good morning, terry. Reporter: Good morning, Lara. This is the latest chapter in a tense and really tragic standoff. Kenneth Bae, an American, Christian missionary arrested in late 2012 and convicted in north Korea of leading a Christian plot to topple the north Korean government. They sentenced him to 15 years of hard labor. Today that strange and slightly ominous scene. Bae let out in prisoner grays, prisoner 103 and said he sinned against North Korea saying he is sorry he couldn't be with his grandmother. It's her birthday and maybe could be a bridge between north Korea and the west. Kenneth Bae has become a Barg bargaining chip in the tense relationship over North Korea's nuclear program. The American government has said that he should be released on humanitarian grounds but Kenneth Bae's family said the Obama administration just isn't doing enough to set him free.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

Dennis Rodman 'Sorry' For Not Helping U.S. Missionary

Former NBA star voices regret for not being able to help Kenneth Bae during North Korea trip.

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